Come on, Hellion, Surge or Wind Dancer. Hellion and I think Surge were in X-Men Legacy, but that doesn't count as a mainline book.
I feel like no one is saying that Nova isn’t a terrible person. Orlando doesn’t even seem to be saying that. We know Jean turned on her empathy, but according to these interviews she’ll still be as bloodthirsty as ever. Based on initial solicits it seems like they have no choice but to team up with her to solve whatever problem they’re presented with, but having to use a villain to save the world does not equal giving them a redemption arc.
Considering where X-Men Red had left her and the fact Grant Morrison already had Nova on a future team during the last part of their run, which people shouldn't overlook so easily, I think Steve Orlando has the right idea.
You can't make Cassandra Nova an actually good person, I would say, but that's where the right approach has to come in: She's one of those characters that can be extremely dangerous even when she's on your side. Someone who can spoil things and cause a lot of damage along the way. It seems Orlando understands that, so I am more open towards her participation in the book after reading the interview.
Just like how Mr. Sinister being part of Krakoa hasn't turned him into a very nice and peaceful guy, you know?
Isn't that why Hellions became so popular though? Nanny is a murderous villain and she became rootable thanks to that story.
Sinister never committed genocide. Granted he was a nazi and that got over looked. Saying she isn't being redeemed but then saying she's out to save mutant kind, doesn't really go together. Again, that's like writing a story where Hitler is still evil but is out to save minorities. To me, Nova reaches that level far more than any other villain.Just like how Mr. Sinister being part of Krakoa hasn't turned him into a very nice and peaceful guy, you know?
That said, I also prefer the old dark version of Sinister instead of this goofball they give us now. I miss when villains didn't all have sob stories.
I do like the writer so I'll give this story a chance but I'm skeptical about it.
Last edited by RamaBird; 01-25-2022 at 08:50 AM.
Okay, wait one. I might overexaggerate my hatred for Sinister for comedic effect and because I find him being on Krakoa distasteful and hypocritical of the Quiet Council, but let's be clear. Nathaniel Essex worked as a nazi doctor in Auschwitz experimenting on jews, poles, romani, LBGTQ people, the mentally ill, soviet prisoners, and whoever else may have been interred there by the Nazi's because of their eugenicist beliefs. Sinister may not have masterminded it, and he may not have killed sixteen million people like Cassandra Nova, but he helped aid, abet, and committ and attempted genocide of multiple minority groups.
Ariel might be able to help Kate travel...
My flag is bacon.
Hellions had an entirely different set up though. That book was supposed to be about the rehabilitation of mutants who aren't fitting into Krakoan society. Wells didn't accidentally humanize those characters, it was his goal from the start. Orlando has already acknowledged that someone like Cassandra can't be redeemed and unlike Hellions, she'll be the odd one out as a murderous villain. Context is key.
Also while Nanny is a murderer, her crimes seem to come from geniune mental illness issues and she at least has had some traumatic events in the past, some humanizing elements, and her being around is also about Orphan maker as much as her, while Cassandra Nova killed sixteen million, and has had much less humanization than Nanny did ever since.
Also Nanny threatened to kill Sinister. That automatically makes her better.
Cassandra killed sixteen times more mutants than Wanda ever did. Just saying.